First aid

 

First Aid & Epipen Policy Statement

 

Aim:

To ensure that staff have the necessary training and equipment to administer first aid to children, and to ensure that children can be treated appropriately in the event of first aid being needed.  

Training

 It is the intention of PWC Setting that all staff attend a 12-hour paediatric first aid course as soon as possible after starting with the Setting and that all staff update the training at least every 3 years.  


Parental Permission

All parents are required to sign the terms and conditions form prior to their child starting at the Setting giving permission for their child to receive emergency First Aid from staff or health professionals.  

 
Accident Forms

An accident form is completed whenever a child has a bump or injury that requires treatment (including a cold compress).  Parents or carer’s are required to sign the form at collection time,    


First Aid Box

The First aid box is stored within easy reach of all on the wall. The box is checked regularly to ensure that the contents are correct and in date, this is usually done by each staff member as they return from first aid training (to ensure we always have the most up to date list of contents) and the check is logged. Any prescribed medication is kept completely seperate from the First aid box in a medical cabinet and only adults may access this –please see the Administering of Medicine Procedure for further information regarding medication.

 

Asthma

Children with prescribed asthma medication are required to have their medication with them in Pre-school at all times, including details of how to use it - please see the Administering of Medicine Procedure for further information regarding medication.


Further Medical Assistance

Should further medical aid be necessary, the Setting will contact the emergency services and the parents of the child immediately. In cases where the child may need to be admitted to hospital, a member of staff will travel with the child and remain with them until the parents or carers arrive - the staff member will remain mindful of our safeguarding procedures at all times and remaining staff will organise emergency cover if ratios of adults/children are compromised as a result.  Medical help would always be sought immediately if a child were to lose consciousness.

 

Procedure for use of EPIPEN

If a child has been prescribed EPIPEN, the parent/carer will provide a care plan for the individual child and a clearly named box containing 2 EPIPENS and any other medication to be kept in the Setting.

The medication should be prescribed for the child by a doctor and be clearly labelled.

It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that the EPIPENS are within expiry date.

The care plan provided by the parent will provide a thorough guide to the use of the EPIPEN for that individual child and should be followed accordingly.

Only staff within the Setting that have received current training in the use of an EPIPEN will administer the EPIPEN.

However, staff that have not received the training may witness the administration of the EPIPEN and assist with the necessary procedures and paperwork.

Staff will be required to attend yearly EPIPEN training as long as there is a child or an adult in the Setting that has been prescribed with an EPIPEN and must sign the EPIPEN training form.

In the event of a child showing signs of allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, the child’s INDIVIDUAL CARE PLAN and EPIPEN Guidance should be followed.

If EPIPEN or PIRITON is administered, all necessary paperwork must be completed, and signatures obtained as soon as possible.

If EPIPEN has been used, a child MUST NOT return to Setting until EPIPEN medication has been replaced and there are 2 EPIPENS for the child on site. Obtain support and assistance from the Health Visitor.

Preventative measures to avoid anaphylaxis or allergic reactions should be taken in the Pre-school including:

  • Staff and other families should be made clearly aware.
  • All food should be checked for possible allergens and avoided.
  • Cooking recipes should be adapted accordingly to avoid the allergens.
  • Food packaging used for junk modelling etc. should be carefully checked and avoided if necessary.
  • Other items such as other children’s lunches, sun creams etc. should be clearly labelled and kept away from the child if they could contain the allergen.

EPIPENS marked with child’s name are kept in the First aid box.

All necessary paperwork, medication and a telephone should be taken on any occasion when leaving the Setting for a walk or trip. 

Necessary documentation should be obtained as per insurance details attached.

Guidance for a child that has been prescribed EPIPEN. 

  • Trained staff member should sit with child on lap ready to administer medication if necessary.
  • Further adult should assist with everything else.
  • ALWAYS CONSULT THE CHILD’S INDIVIDUAL CARE PLAN FOR EXACT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.

 

  1. Identify possible signs of an allergic reaction (these could include coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, nettle rash, excess salivating, swelling of face and lips, difficulty swallowing, clamminess).
  • Keep calm and instruct assisting adult to obtain the necessary paperwork and medication.

Red folder, named box from First aid cupboard, telephone and red registration folder

– the other adult should then stay close by you and the child to offer assistance as necessary.

  • Move the child to acalm place, away from other children and noise as they may be frightened (ensure that other children are safe and supervised).

 

  • Check ABC, check child’s breathing, can they say more than 4 words in one breath – if not they are having breathing difficulties.

 

  1. If the child is showing any of the above signs:
  • CHECK AND FOLLOW INDIVIDUAL CARE PLAN
  • IF prescribed, administer PIRITON immediately as per care plan.
  • Talk to the child – try to ascertain what they may have eaten.
  • Look for evidence of what could have caused the reaction.
  • Assisting adult should document as appropriate.

 

  1. If child appears to improve, contact adult immediately for further advice.
  2. If signs and symptoms persist
  • GET HELP IMMEDIATELY – Dial 999, tell them that it is anaphylaxis and EPIPEN may be needed.
  • Emergency services will stay on the line and ask questions and offer support (the ambulance will already be on its way).
  • If EPIPEN has been prescribed and you answer yes to the following three questions (you may be in doubt) but EPIPEN should definitely be administered immediately as per care plan, if: 
  • DEFINITE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS.
  • DEFINITE DETERIORATION.
  • DIRE CONSEQUENCES IF NO MEDICAL INTERVENTION.

 

To administer EPIPEN:

  1. Check that EPIPEN is in box clearly prescribed for the child in question. The pen should be in a yellow tube (check it contains the clear liquid).
  2. Remove safety catch and hold pen in fist.
  3. Locate the child’s middle 3rd of thigh above seam line.
  4. Push EPIPEN firmly into thigh – MUST CLICK – count 10 seconds.
  5. Hold flesh either side of pen with two fingers and gently pull pen out.
  6. Carefully replace pen in tube with lid and retain for ambulance crew.
  7. Ensure airway is clear and remain with child.
  8. If you are scratched by the needle, hold under water for 5 mins and squeeze to make it bleed. Obtain medical assistance (you will need to go to A & E).  

Assisting adult should document as appropriate.

Sitting child up and leaning forwards on table (as for asthmatic) may help breathing.

 

  1. Continue to observe child and assess ABC until ambulance arrives.

The ambulance crew will want to know what has happened, times and care plan followed etc.

If the parents have not arrived, a staff member must accompany the child to the hospital and stay with the child until the parents arrive.

 

  1. If signs and symptoms persist after 5-10 mins.

 

IF prescribed, administer second EPIPEN as per care plan.

Let the emergency services know what is happening and ask for further assistance.

 

Ref: 42d